PMR & Covid

[ab58sf]

I have PMR and recently got Covid. My symptoms have been fairly mild, but I was prescribed molnupiravar, an antiviral. Have any of you had experience with having Covid? Did you take an antiviral? Would appreciate your input. As my symptoms have been light, I have not begun it.

[SnazzyD]

I can tell you about my 4 possibly 5 covids since March 2020 including 7 months of long Covid but I’m not sure it would be directly applicable to you given the huge range of experiences people seem to have. In addition, it appears there is no telling whether a person will succumb to long term health effects eg. Cardiovascular based on their severity of the infection. I think a few here have had antivirals.

[ab58sf in reply to SnazzyD]

These are awful decisions to make. One interesting thing is that as I have Covid, my PMR pain is gone for the most part. I fear it will come back with a vengeance if/when I get over Covid. I hope I don't regret not starting the antiviral.

[SnazzyD in reply to ab58sf]

What is concerning you about taking it? Do you have concerns about it? I do recall others saying they had a reprieve of their PMR symptoms during the acute phase and it came back later. The point I was making, perhaps rather tersely, is that given the variability in people and difficulty in determining outcomes from infection severity, it’s a jolly tricky decision to make. Some would say it’s an easy decision because of the uncertainty and any chance to have a better outcome is a good thing whatever the concerns. I do wonder if I would have escaped long Covid (Delta) and it’s effect on my brain had I had antivirals. Also, in July (Omicron 5), if I had got to hospital earlier and got them perhaps my muscle wasting from it wouldn’t have happened. In every case of Covid my autoimmune condition GCA was fine.

[ab58sf in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks for this information. I appreciate it. As it is experimental and my symptoms were fairly mild, I had concerns. Don't know all the long-term effects as yet.

[Carrollee in reply to ab58sf]

I was assessed (on the phone) for antivirals by the hospital but it was decided I wasn’t bad enough so I didn’t have them. 🤷🏼‍♀️ escaped on the 11th day.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

This is just one related post -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Once you look at it there are plenty more on same subject…have a browse.

[ab58sf in reply to DorsetLady]

This is helpful. Thanks

[nallufl24]

I took Paxlovid as soon as I tested positive. My symptoms were mild also but you never know how it will progress. After 5 days of the antiviral I was fine

[winfong]

Just got it recently. My rheumy prescribed Paxlovid, which worked great, but did cause a rebound.

He also had me drop my leflunomide for the rebound, which seemed to bring back the old aches and pains of PMR. (I did up my pred along the way.)

Right now (3 weeks from the 1st instance), I have cold symptoms and incredible exhaustion. I mean, I've had mononucleosis, depression and of course PMR, but this is the most exhausted I've ever been. Will this go away? When?

[Freya32 in reply to winfong]

Yes, it will all go away ,TheBody can heal itself given the right things.Rest sleep, fresh air healthy food, lots of red,green,yellow veg and fruit along with home made soups, natural yoghurt, healthy, grass fed meat if you eat meat , salmon, cheese etc.

My son was at death's door in January His wife rushed him to hospital..his blood tests were all horrific.

Crp 230, liver terrible etcetc

They gave him intravenous antibiotics and prednisolone.

Diagnosis.....sepsis, EBV, ( glandular fever ) , hepatitis, query GCA.

He was 6-8 months recovering, at home.

All well now....back to heath...doing all he did before.

Colorectal cancer , tumour burst when being removed 3 yrs previosly .Refused chemo.

Healed himself with the right foods and supplements.

So far so good.....

He has had covid several times.Not beenvaccinated. Never anything pres ribed for it. Just rests and and takes more vic C, l, D3 with K , hot lemon,honey

Here we have had Covid several times...ist time Christmas before any lockdowns and such

All very unwell..ages from 81 then down to 7,

Everymember of my large, scattered, family has had the various forms of covid several times....the four times vaccinated just as much as the non vaccinated??

I found a herbal Chinese medicine helped themost.. And honey...lots of it.

We have had it several times since.Long lasting after effects , sense of taste lost, fever, fatigue, constant cough etc but after week ortwo in bed we get over it.

If any difficulties breathing then naturally that needs medical attention.

Antivirals have an important part to play

Never give up hope but take care of yourself.

Be well.

[Abcd123455]

I also had antivirals but there were delays getting it to me as I tested positive on a Friday. I can’t say it was a good experience and given the choice again wouldn’t take it. Perhaps taking it sooner would have made a positive difference, guess I’ll never know. Everyone is different though so someone else may benefit from them. Anyhow I recovered fine. Hopefully you’ll recover soon. All the best for a speedy recovery.

[ab58sf in reply to Abcd123455]

Thanks for all this information and encouragement. I will hang in there and let my body handle this. Blessings to all!

[Smallstepsforward]

I took anti virals for Covid. I’ve got PMR. They worked for me. I was symptomatic and started the AVs on the evening of day 4. I didn’t notice any particular difference in the length of symptoms and was negative by the morning of day 8. What I did notice was the lack of post viral fatigue and pmr related pain afterwards . I bounced back faster than with other Covid infections. Having less post viral pmr related pain was a welcome relief too as usually my pmr symptoms spike with an infection.

[Downtime]

I have RA and PMR . I had covid in august. My symptoms weren’t too bad . I felt ill for a few days and I did take the antivirals I was given. They were fine but like horse pills . I have to admit I didn’t completely finish the course because I felt so much better and I think I would have recovered quickly even without the antivirals, but who knows. I take Mxt and steroids.

[Jigsawlass]

I took antivirals and they definitely reduced symptoms .

[Booklist]

reported my positive test results to the NHS on day 1 of covid. Within 30 mins someone rang to ask how I was. They rang again several times. I felt ill, but not terrible so they decided to wait until day 3 by which time I was ffeeling much better. They d ecided that I was getting better and didn't need the antivirals. I continued to improve and was soon back to normal, ((whatever that is these days. )

[Matua]

Yes I have had PMR for 2 years and had got my Pred down to 6mgs.. I got Covid on 22/10 and immediately went on to Molnupiravir..I was fully vaxxed...my Covid symptoms were minor and lasted 2 days...I made no changes to my Pred and then continued with my tapering and got down to 5mgs.. However Just recently (1/12 )my CRP went up and I increased my Pred to 7 mgs..Still feel OK so will start to taper again after this weekend..Thats my experience for what its worth

[ab58sf in reply to Matua]

I have been wondering what the Covid would do to my test results next time I see my rheumatologist. I pray the markers are not a lot worse and 3mgs of pred will keep the PMR at bay.

[diana1998]

I have just recovered from covid and forgot out antivirals. I had razor blades in the throat for 4 nights, th

[diana1998]

My reply went too fast! I forgot about antivirals as tested negative after starting a very painful throat followed by heavy cold and bad dry hacking cough. 5 days later tested positive. Stayed in for 10 days gently wrapping Christmas presents. Dr gave me an antibiotic for the cough and after 10 days I'm back fine. Maybe antivirals would have helped but I will never know!

[PMRZ]

My partner has PMR (currently 10mg Pred), he developed a sore throat and a bit of a cold the day before we flew to Malta on 5th November. I took a Covid test kit with me, but he tested negative when we got there.

A few days later I developed the same symptoms and tested positive after we returned, so I guess he must have been positive at some stage. It’s nearly 5 weeks later and he’s still feeling rough (and so am I!) He didn’t take my advice about ‘sick day rules’ which I think may have helped but has had antibiotics. We are both coughing day and night, so it was just bad timing that he wasn’t able to access the anti-virals while we were abroad, which I’m sure he would have taken if he had the opportunity.

I have no underlying health problems and had the autumn booster 8 weeks before I caught it, so I do wonder if there is a particularly nasty strain going around, which we won’t know as so few people are able to do a PCR test now.

[yogabonnie]

I took Paxlovid on the First day. and was well within 36 hours. however still tested positive, felt fine. on the 8th day after stopping antivirals on the 5th. had a rebound which felt terrible for 24 hours then symptoms were gone and I tested neg after 2 full weeks from the start. If you decide to take them, I know they prevent or supposedly will prevent long covid which you can get with a mild case, you are wise not to take the first few days. I think taking too soon causes rebound. Good luck! lots of opinions offered I see!

[ProcrastiBaker]

I had Covid at the time that I was first diagnosed with PMR in June 2022. I took Paxlovid for five days. I had a relatively easy time with Covid. The PMR was bad though because I hadn’t started prednisone yet. The Paxlovid has to be started within five days of onset if Covid. Good luck!

[ab58sf in reply to ProcrastiBaker]

Thank you.

[Colleen1974]

My husband and I tested positive for Covid 12 days ago and I was quite ill. We were put on Paxlovid immediately. Worked fantastic but now my husband and I both have the rebound with horrible head colds and tested positive again. I don't regret going on it though. And the PMR pain was much less when I was taking it.